[Women's Soccer] Women's Soccer Falcons Secure Best Conference Start with 5-0 win over Sterling

WICHITA, Kan. – For the first time in at least the past 15 years, the Friends University Falcons are 8-0 in the KCAC following a 5-0 shutout victory over the Sterling College Lady Warriors tonight (Oct. 19) at Adair-Austin Stadium.

The shutout is the Falcons' KCAC-leading eighth of the season and moves their record to 11-2 overall, already equaling their most wins since 2016.

"This group is special right now, Friends head coach Brent Hobson said. "We have a great group of young women that are trying to achieve something this year."

After the match was scoreless through the first 15 minutes, the floodgates opened in a hurry for the Falcons.

Willow Corliss (JR/Wichita, Kan.) scored the Falcons' first goal on a feed from Paige Achey (JR/Wichita, Kan. ) at the 15:03 mark.

Jazelle Gonzalez (SR/Dallas, Texas) followed that with two goals in a seven minute span to make it 3-0.

Her first goal came when she made a nifty move to gain possession for a clear look at the net in the 19th minute.

She then scored off an assist from Cassidy Darrah (SR/Wichita, Kan.) at the 27:37 mark.

Two minutes later, Gonzalez assisted on a goal by Achey for the Falcons' fourth goal.

To top off the first half explosion, Madalyn Liebst (SO/Derby, Kan. ) added her first goal of the season with less than five minutes remaining in the period.

That was more than enough scoring for the Falcons, whose defense was stifling all night in out-shooting the Lady Warriors 26-2 overall and 18-1 on-goal.

Achey and Dani Cole (SR/Rogersville, Mo. ) each had four shots to lead the Falcons offensively.

Lauren Ferguson (SR/Wentzville, Mo. ) played the first half for Friends before Ashlee Richman (JR/Garden City, Kan.) finished things off in the second half with one save.

"We were focusing on getting numbers forward into the attack and I thought we did that well," Hobson said. "Ashlee came up big at the end to keep a clean sheet."

Jacqueline Vargas was busy in the net for the Lady Warriors (1-13, 0-8 KCAC) throughout and recorded 13 saves.

The Falcons will next be at York College Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 22) at 1 pm in York, Neb.